Unframed Ashley David Middleton Cooper (1856-1924) oil on canvas painting, "The Precipice of Life" on stretcher bars. Signed lower right. Dimensions: 9'3"h x 13'7"w. Accompanied by Copper hand signed letter, dated October 16, 1906, documenting the sale of this painting to D. Knabe of Oakland, California. Cooper was born in St. Louis, Missouri. George Catlin, the early explorer/painter of Plains Indian life, was a family friend, and his paintings and stories probably inspired Cooper's life-long fascination with Native Americans. After studying art at Washington University, Cooper made his own explorations through western territories, living with Indians and recording his experiences in drawings and paintings. He spent two years in Boulder, Colorado drawing for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, and making easel paintings of Indian subjects and western landscapes. At age 24, Cooper moved to San Francisco and adopted the life of a Bohemian artist, setting up his first studio in the city's Latin Quarter. His reputation grew quickly, and by the early 1880s he was selling his paintings in the eastern United States and in Europe. Cooper moved to San Jose, California in 1883, eventually building an elaborate studio in the Egyptian style. His contemporaries considered him one of the most important artists in California, and his paintings were purchased or commissioned by members of the California aristocracy, including Mrs. Leland Stanford. In his later years, Cooper increasingly painted landscapes, allegories, and historical subjects. His brushwork loosened, and some of the allegorical paintings, in particular, have an impressionist quality. Cooper was a notorious bon vivant. It was said that he paid many bar bills with paintings of women, and many establishments in the area featured one or more of his canvases. This item is too large to fit in one of our available boxes. You may pick it up at our warehouse by arranging an appointment emailing hello@annexauctions.com or calling (916)-642-5193. You may also arrange any shipper of your choosing, however from past experience and reputation, we recommend CCC Transport. Shipping can be arranged with CCC Transport via corlancartage@gmail.com or (920) 450-5027. Please see photos.